Chapter 60. Those Who Refuse Rescue.
Chapter 60. Those Who Refuse Rescue.
'Huh? Did I hear that right?'
"Wait, did I mishear? They're refusing rescue?"
"...You heard correctly. And on top of that, they demanded regular food supplies."
"Say what? They want us to just leave it for them?"
"...I'll brief you again once a more detailed report comes in."
"Right. Let's table this for now and discuss it with everyone later. Setting the hospital aside, what kind of skills do the technicians have?"
"They have basic mechanical engineering knowledge, and quite a few are specialized in machinery and electrical systems, production and manufacturing, and so on."
"We're lucky there are more people who could be useful to the group than I expected. Are there any mechanics who can handle vehicle repairs and maintenance?"
"Of course. There are welders and engineers as well."
The main reason we were relying on helicopters was the vehicle maintenance problem. The noise wasn't ideal, but the real issue was that if a vehicle broke down from collisions or other incidents, our current personnel could only manage simple repairs. Internal damage was almost impossible to fix.
Helicopters are fuel-devouring monsters, after all.
"Let's stop here for now and discuss the rest when we all gather this evening."
"Yes."
As I passed by, I watched the people conducting inspections that bordered on excessively thorough. From a survivor's perspective, it might feel offensive, but I looked on with considerable satisfaction as I walked.
Just then, a family called out to me. A husband, wife, and a young girl. Curious why they'd stopped me, I looked at them.
"I heard you're the representative of this group. Thank you for saving us."
"Don't mention it."
"We were nearly out of food and genuinely thinking about risking our lives to go outside. Thank you again. I don't know how we'll ever repay this kindness."
"Really... then just work hard for the group."
Saying it offhandedly, I gave the little girl's head a few gentle pats with my palm and went on my way.
'I hope more people like them come in. And please, I hope there aren't any bastards demanding we hand over everything we have.'
I ate a simple meal at home and then took a walk, observing how the group was operating. Not everyone looked happy, but no one looked unhappy either. And each person wore an expression that hinted at a sense of responsibility, aware they were a member of this group.
After checking the meeting time, I turned my steps toward the assembly hall. Sure enough, this time too, everyone except me had arrived early. Honestly, I'd been curious about that for a while. I always show up ten minutes early myself, so how did they all manage to get here before me every single time?
Choi Jae-hyeok answered the question I'd tossed out without much thought.
"Sihu is the representative of this place. Who would dare keep him waiting? And from an outside perspective, it also demonstrates his authority."
The remark sounded a little... thuggish, but when I glanced around, no one looked flustered. They probably all more or less thought the same thing.
Anyway, once I arrived at the assembly hall and took my seat, the President had his chief of staff relay to everyone the details he had told me earlier.
"Hm? Mr. President, a group... that doesn't want to be rescued?"
"Yes, and they demanded regular food supplies from us."
At the mention that they had shamelessly demanded regular food, some people snorted in derision, others looked utterly baffled.
"Who do they think they are, making such brazen demands for food?"
"Brother! We even killed zombies for those survivors!!"
"Isn't this just completely shameless?"
The reactions, however, were unanimously angry. Among them, only Choi Jae-hyeok was quietly mulling something over.
"I think I have a rough idea what they're thinking."
"Hm? What they're thinking?"
"Most likely... that group will have a representative as well. They want a stable food supply, but they wouldn't want to end up under someone else's authority."
The President chimed in, as if he understood exactly what Jae-hyeok meant.
"So they don't want to abandon the little kingdom they've built for themselves?"
"Yes, precisely. Right now, that person is probably living it up like a king."
"Then, would it be better to just ignore them... or should we offer support...?"
"They called themselves government forces, so they're probably flexing their muscles, thinking they can just demand food or support."
They were the government that had made the effort to come rescue citizens, so of course those people would act high and mighty. With that 'So the government won't help its citizens?' kind of attitude. A sudden thought crossed my mind, and I asked the group.
"Do they also know the location of our base?"
The group grasped what I meant, and their expressions suddenly grew uncomfortable.
"There's a possibility they might use any captives they've taken to try something..."
They'd seen our helicopters and armaments, so they probably wouldn't entertain such thoughts rashly. But the mere possibility that our location was exposed and something could happen was enough to make people deeply uneasy.
"We'll need to increase the number of guards on perimeter watch going forward. And first, we should dole out food little by little while observing their movements."
"Are you planning to go there in person?"
"No, I'll just give them about a week's worth of food and drag it out as long as possible. We'll get a reaction out of them eventually."
Finishing my words, I looked around the group to see if anyone had more to say. At that moment, the chief of staff behind the President hesitated and then requested to speak.
"Actually, there's one more place that has contacted us—I'm not sure if I should call it a rescue request."
"Huh? Where is that?"
"A corporate research complex."
"Why didn't you say so earlier? Aren't researchers exactly the kind of personnel our group needs?"
"They didn't request a rescue in the same way, either. They proposed a trade."
"A trade?"
"Yes, and their representative is the chairman of the corporation."
Hearing this, the situation immediately got a lot more complicated. A corporate chairman wouldn't simply relinquish the authority he holds. The President turned and asked his chief of staff in response.
"What are they demanding, and what are they offering?"
"They demanded weapons and food, mostly weapons, and in return, they offered to provide technicians and supplies."
Hearing this all at once gave me a headache. Good lord, were three separate factions, including us, really springing up in this cramped little patch of Gyeonggi-do?
"Let's go negotiate with the research complex first. They're still a better option than bastards who demand nothing but unconditional handouts of food."
"Yes, then we'll draft a plan with that stance in mind."
Just as we were finally about to wrap up the meeting, a soldier rushed in, looking frantic.
"We have a problem...! Some survivors outside are causing a disturbance!"
"A disturbance?"
The entire group rose and rushed to the source of the commotion. There, we found soldiers at a loss and survivors screaming at the top of their lungs. Seo Ji-hoon approached them to try and quell the ruckus.
"What's the matter?"
"Isn't this blatant discrimination!!!"
"Discrimination? What do you mean?"
"Huh!? You guys get to live in nice houses while we're stuck in containers—does that make any sense to you!!!"
I stopped the others, who were about to fire back at his words, and stepped forward myself to face him.
"Why does that 'not make sense'?"
"Wh-what...?"
"We built this system from the ground up, rescuing people off the bare ground. Isn't it only natural that people like that receive better treatment?"
"You people call yourselves a government that saves citizens...! How can you discriminate...!"
"Let's call it a 'difference,' not 'discrimination.' We aren't forcing unreasonable labor on you. When we assign necessary work, we clearly ask if you're capable enough. Am I wrong?"
"...!"
Everywhere you go, you'll find troublemakers like him. The common type in society who raise their voices the moment they think someone is weaker than them. You know, those unreasonable assholes who pop up on the internet throwing their weight around?
"If you have a complaint, you can leave. We'll provide you with enough food and give you a weapon. So, are you going to leave?"
I swept my gaze over the people standing behind the man acting out in front of me and asked them the same question.
"The people here led soldiers to secure the base station and power plant, and brought back weapons from military bases crawling with zombies. You've survived this long only because of our consideration."
I held his eyes without flinching, staring him down until the end, and eventually, he dropped his gaze.
"The civil servants and store clerks who used to tremble at your loud voices are gone now. Prove your usefulness. If you don't, the treatment you're getting now will stay as it is. In the first place, we're giving each family a separate house and meals—do you have any real reason to complain?"
"..."
They walked away without having gained a single thing. Then I looked at the soldiers who had been at a loss and the one who had come to report to us.
"From now on, respond firmly to people like that. I grant you authority to use a degree of force, and if your life is threatened, I'll even authorize lethal force. And I'll take responsibility for any incidents that arise."
Perhaps because I spoke in a tone that showed I was genuinely concerned about them, they saluted spiritedly and went back to finish their duties.
'No matter where you go, you have to crush the bastards who pick fights with the people protecting them right from the start.'
"For the record, social status means nothing from now on. You'll be treated according to the work you do."
"Yes..."
"In a few days, I'll head to the research complex. On the way, let's toss some supplies to the group that demanded food, take a quick look around the area, and then go."
Maybe because I'd just seen someone acting up like that, I was already getting a bad impression of this 'corporate chairman' figure for no reason.
'A chairman would be an older gentleman, right... I really hope nothing troublesome comes out of this.'